£6 
TRAVELS IN ABYSSINIA. 
honourable exile, and was appointed nominal go- 
vernor of the province of the Gaffates (Efat), 
situated in the southern extremity of Abyssinia, 
Thither, accordingly, the patriarch was immedi- 
ately conveyed, the chiefs of that country being 
instructed to shew him every respect, and to pay 
all the rents of the province into his hands ; but 
on no account to allow him to depart. What 
chiefly concerns us is, that, in this unwelcome 
dignity, Bermudez obtained some information 
respecting these remote regions, which have not 
been visited by any other European. 
The country of the Gaffates is described as en- 
closed within high and craggy mountains, after 
passing which they went down into a valley, so 
deep, that it appeared to the patriarch like de- 
scending into hell. This valley proved, however, 
to be a great and rich country, abounding in fer- 
tile fields, and producing much gold. It contains 
also a manufacture of fine cotton cloths. The 
people are described as " barbarous and evil." 
They were represented by many as Jews ; but it 
appears that they were Gentiles, and were thus 
viewed in the same strange and odious light 
throughout Abyssinia that Jews are among Eu- 
ropeans. 
Our author, in this administration, does not 
appear to have borne his faculties very meekly. 
He mentions, as a specimen, that one of the 
